SFU to breed climate-resistant plants for Rostov greenery
The Botanical Garden of South Federal University (SFU) will establish a special nursery to breed plants for greening Rostov. This was reported by 161.RU, citing the director of the scientific institution, Tatyana Varduni. According to her, these will be special varieties resistant to the local climate.
«We are creating a nursery where we will purposefully cultivate adapted material that will be in demand by the city and the region. In this way, we are working not on import substitution, but on import anticipation. The planting material must be domestic and verified,» she said.
According to Varduni, the nursery will operate on a closed-cycle principle — from development in the biotechnological laboratory to breeding mature plants.
«I hope that this year we will be able to complete the infrastructure work. At the same time, we are establishing mother plants, that is, plants that we will propagate further. And within five years, we should reach full capacity,» said the director of the SFU Botanical Garden.
She clarified that the institution has already developed a range of woody plants, shrubs, and vines recommended for planting in the cities of Rostov Oblast. However, the region is large, with different climatic zones. Therefore, the list of recommended plants may vary from area to area.
«You see what«s happening with the climate? The last two years have been very dry, with huge insolation (exposure of surfaces to solar radiation. — Ed.). Therefore, our plants must primarily protect public health and be resistant to drought, diseases, and pests,» Varduni explained.
She added that the nursery is being created as part of a cooperation agreement that the SFU Botanical Garden and the Rostov administration signed in October 2025.
As reported by 161.RU, the survival rate of trees planted in Rostov Oblast has fallen to a minimum in recent years. More than half die within the first year. In 99% of cases, the cause was drought. The remaining 1% is due to forest fires.
